3 weeks ago
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Hon Alex Ikwechegh an the assaulted driver
An e-hailing driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, has filed a petition before the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against a member of the House of Representatives, Alex Ikwechegh, over an alleged assault.
PUNCH Online reports that a viral video which emerged on social media showed the lawmaker verbally and physically assaulting the driver for telling him to come out and get the snail the driver was meant to deliver to him.
In the video, the visibly angered member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency repeatedly insisted that the request was disrespectful given his social status.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance member also threatened to make the driver “disappear” without facing any consequences. When the driver requested the delivery fee, the politician slapped him multiple times, querying if the driver knew who he was talking to.
However, the Nigeria Police Force has stated that it was aware of the incident, and the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has invited the lawmaker for questioning.
In the petition dated October 28, through his lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe of the Deji Adeyanju & Partners law firm, the driver accused the lawmaker of grievous assault, abuse of power, attempted murder and threat to life.
He explained that not taking the food into the compound is in line with the laid down principles of the bolt service and expressed disappointment over the lawmaker’s conduct.
In the petition, Abuwatseya also called for an investigation into the matter and possible prosecution of the lawmaker.
The letter read in parts, “Our client is a bolt driver and a hard-working Nigerian citizen. It is our client’s information that at about 9pm on October 27, 2024, he was contracted by a vendor to deliver some food to Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.
“Regrettably, upon getting to Hon. Ikwechegh’s residence, he requested that our client bring the food into his premises, contrary to the laid down policies regulating bolt drivers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our client politely refused the request and urged Hon. Ikwechegh to send someone to pick up the food outside the gate, as is customary with delivery services.
“In response to our client’s refusal to take the food into the premises, Hon. Ikwechegh physically assaulted our client, tore his clothes, threatened to make him “disappear” from Nigeria and repeatedly dared our client to call the Inspector General of Police, while threatening that nothing will happen to him.
“Following the assault, Hon. Ikwechegh caused our client to be detained at the Maitama Police Station and his car seized by the Investigative Police Officer. Attached herein, for ease of reference, is a video recording of the incident.
As a serving member of the Federal House of Representatives, whose primary duties include making laws for the safety of Nigerians, we find Hon. Ikwechegh’s actions were totally distasteful and a threat to our client’s safety.
“At a time when several Nigerians are increasingly being subjected to enforced disappearance by state and non-state actors, we particularly find Hon. Ikwechegh’s threat to cause our client’s disappearance as a national issue that deserves immediate investigation.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that we kindly request that you investigate the issues raised in this petition with a view to prosecuting Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh.”
